"Although neglected in scholarly literature, the Latter Rain foreshadowed themes that emerged [in] the 1970s to the early 2000s.... Latter Rain participants - ousted by the Pentecostal denominations - became a diaspora of the Spirit" - The Cambridge Companion to Pentecostalism, 2014

don't miss a thing ...

scroll all the way to the bottom and see LARGE, hard-to-find photos of the Pembertons, Earl Lee, Mom Beall, and others!

Saturday, 26 September 2009

Bethesda celebrates its 75th anniversary

Bethesda's original building

by Archibald Thackeray

Seventy-five
years ago, in an old tire store on Nevada Avenue in Detroit, a mother of three started a Sunday School for her children and others in the neighborhood. The
date was June 17, 1934.

Tomorrow - more than 3,900 Sundays later - what has become the Bethesda Christian Church will celebrate all that God has developed from such humble beginnings.

M. D. "Mom" Beall was the mother that started the Sunday School. She wasn't looking to pastor a megachurch, but that's what grew from her efforts. Over the decades, what was then known as Bethesda Missionary Temple, grew and grew without the help of church growth methods many advocate today. (A picture of Bethesda's congregation that was published in LIFE magazine in June 1958 can be seen here - after clicking on the link you will need to scroll down the page to see the photo).

September 21, 1979

According to her obituary in the Detroit News in September 1979:

"Membership in the tiny church, with Mrs. Beall as pastor, 'just exploded,' said her son, James. When the church grew out of its tiny quarters, Mrs. Beall's husband, a builder, joined the project."'Dad was the builder; mother the pastor,' her son recalled."

Today, Bethesda is a suburban church in Sterling Heights, Michigan, seating 3,000. It is non-denominational and can be characterized as Pentecostal or Charismatic (if by Pentecostal one means, practicing speaking in tongues, and if by Charismatic one means, operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit; in this case, nothing more is implied by the usage of those labels).

After revival broke out in North Battleford, Saskatchewan in 1948, Mom Beall traveled to Western Canada to see what it was all about. Specifically, she went to meetings in Vancouver where the revival had spread as well.She returned ablaze with revival fire and her church in Detroit became one of the centers of what became known as the Latter Rain Movement. Other cities with prominent Latter Rain churches were Portland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Memphis, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Cleveland, New Orleans, Houston, and, of course, Vancouver.Noted Pentecostal historian Vinson Synan says, "The Pentecostal movement was at a low ebb in 1948, with a growing dryness and lack of charismatic gifts. Many who heard about the events in Canada believed that it was a new Azusa Street, with many healings, tongues and prophecies. A large center of the revival outside of Canada was the Bethesda Missionary Temple in Detroit, Michigan pastored by Myrtle Beale [sic]. From Detroit, the movement spread across the United States like a prairie wildfire." An Eyewitness Remembers the Century of the Holy Spirit(Chosen), p. 35.

Another important Pentecostal historian, Allan Anderson, adds, "This movement emphasized the restoration of the 'ministry gifts' of apostles and prophets to the church, spoken prophecies, and the independence of the local church, tending to shun 'denominationalism'. Many of the independent Charismatic churches that constitute a large portion of Pentecostalism in North America today have roots in the Latter Rain movement." An Introduction to Pentecostalism(Cambridge University Press), p. 51.

As has been seen in far too many Pentecostal revivals, pernicious error crept into some of the Latter Rain churches. The most pronounced of these errors was a doctrine called, The Manifest Sons of God. One of the things that proponents of that doctrine taught was that it did not matter what they did in their mortal bodies because they had been spiritually glorified. Mom Beall and her children, who all followed her into the ministry, were grieved by such erroneous teaching and withstood it completely.

Veteran pastor Ernest Gentile, who first experienced the revival in 1950, also notes that, "Within a year of the start of this move of God's Spirit in North Battleford, there were a number of strange happenings throughout North America also labeled 'Latter Rain.' Many visitors to North Battleford, and [other] influential churches across the United States, caught the excitement of what was happening, but missed the basic truths and experience. Thus, as in every movement, characteristics were attributed to the Latter Rain movement that were not part of the original." Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy: Prophetic Gifts in Ministry (Chosen Books).

James Lee Beall, the son quoted in the obituary above, gave some specifics:

James Lee Beall

“Some years back, a group of ministers whom I knew well fell into the trap of believing that the grace of God was license. One of them supposedly received a revelation from God based on Romans 8:10: 'And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.' This meant to him that if a person was in Christ, the body was dead in the sight of the Lord and whatever the body did was of no consequence. This opened the way for drunkenness, adultery, homosexuality, and what have you.

"When I heard what they were teaching, I confronted some of the men. But they were evasive. Some weeks later I received a visit from one of the men whom I had known for years. He asked me if he could conduct a series of meetings at Bethesda.

"I answered, 'Not until we have a few things straight.' Shortly, and to my horror, I learned that all I heard was true. I denied him the meeting, refused to bid him God speed, and made it clear that neither he nor any of his friends would be welcome in the church or in the homes of any of the flock." Your Pastor, Your Shepherd (Logos International), pp. 60-61.

Two well-researched books chronicle the history of the Latter Rain Movement. Richard Riss's The Latter Rain Movement of 1948(Honeycomb Visual Productions) is currently the only booksolely devoted to the topic. Winds from the North: Canadian Contributions to the Pentecostal Movement(Brill Academic Publishers), edited by Michael Wilkinson and Peter Althouse, devotes two chapters (D. William Faupel's, "The New Order of the Latter Rain: Restoration or Renewal?" and Mark Hutchinson's, "The Latter Rain Movement and the Phenomenon of Global Return").

Balanced Biblical teaching and spontaneous, anointed praise and worship have been hallmarks of church life at Bethesda. In fact, the late Judson Cornwall, known for his teaching on praise and worship, stood in Bethesda's pulpit once and told the congregation he was not sure why he had been asked to teach there because the first time he had ever heard the kind of praise and worship that he talked about he was listening to a tape recording of Bethesda. The beauty and harmony of Bethesda's spontaneous worship has been compared to a "heavenly choir" by many that have visited the church.

Bill Hamon further explains, "During [the Latter Rain] movement a new expression of worship and praise flowing up and down like rhythmic waves of gentle ocean breezes and then rising to a crescendo of melodious praises that is best described by the Book of Revelation as 'the sound of many waters' (Rev. 19:6) .... In the 1950s, the praise service would flow continuously for 30 minutes to three hours. Most Charismatics of the 1960s and 1970s came into the Latter Rain type of worship more than the Pentecostal ways of worship [which Hamon describes as shouting 'praises for two or three minutes']." The Eternal Church: A Prophetic Look at the Church - Her History, Restoration, and Destiny (Destiny Image Publishers), chapter 24: The Latter Rain Movement.

Vinson Synan confirms that this expression of worship came to be part of the Charismatic Renewal, as well. John Miller, an instructor at Elim Bible Institute reports, "Vinson Synan stated that the Catholic Charismatic Movement experienced the same heavenly choir phenomena, resulting from its earliest interaction with the Bealls of Detroit, Michigan. Students from Duquesne University (a private Catholic University in Pittsburg [sic], Pennsylvania) and the University of Michigan (a public university in Ann Arbor, Michigan) encountered the Holy Spirit at the Bethesda Tabernacle [sic], and later experienced similar expressions of the heavenly choir in the Catholic Charismatic Movement." "New Order of the Latter Rain: A New Perspective," in The Pneuma Review, Fall 2013, Volume 16, Number 4, p. 71.

As noted earlier, Mom Beall passed away in 1979. Her eldest, Patricia Gruits, is in her 80s

Patricia Beall Gruits

now, but remains active in teaching and missions ministries. Her book, Understanding God, is a best-seller that has been translated into several languages.

James Beall went on to become one of the most sought after speakers in the charismatic movement in the 1970s. From articles in the Logos Journal to speaking at major events like the World Conference on the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem to teachings delivered to Roman Catholic charismatic audiences, James was in the thick of things. He wrote several books, including Laying the Foundation, a methodical teaching on the Christian life using Hebrews 6 as its springboard. He assumed both the pastorate of Bethesda and the microphone of the national radio broadcast, America to Your Knees, from his mother. After decades in Bethesda's pulpit he retired from daily ministry in 2004. Today, the church is pastored by his daughter Analee Dunn. [UPDATE June 2016 - Analee Dunn has retired, turning over the senior pastorate to Patrick Visger.]

Harry M. Beall

The youngest of the three, Harry M. Beall, was for years Bethesda's minister of music in addition to ministering the Word there and in congregations throughout the United States. Now retired from Bethesda's ministry, he lives in Arizona.

I salute and thank Bethesda, its congregation and ministers for 75 years of faithful service. Enjoy your celebration tomorrow!A video commemorating the 75th anniversary can be seen here.

Moses Vegh addressing the Washington for Jesus rally on the National Mall in 1980 by Archibald Thackeray Moses Vegh, who is the head o...

James Beall tells Bethesda's history

Pastor James Lee Beall recalls the history of the church his mother founded - Bethesda Missionary Temple - in this talk given at a FGBMFI convention in Washington, DC in the 70s. ***Click on image*** for info on purchasing.

"Singing in the Spirit"

*** Click on the image *** to link to an article by Dr. Richard Riss that explains singing in the Spirit and the phenomenon in the Latter Rain revival known as, "the heavenly choir."

Pat Gruits' 96th birthday!

Patricia Beall Gruits, who was profiled on this blog in May 2013, turns 96 today, February 22, 2019. She is one of the few ministers remaining from the earliest days of the Latter Rain revival (others include: Charles Green, Hugh Layzell, Kayy Gordon, Ernest Gentile, and Donald Murphy). Her most recent book, Understanding the Winds of God, is pictured above. If you are interested in purchasing it *** click on the book's image. ***

Kevin Conner (1927 - 2019)

The Australian author and Bible teacher Kevin Conner went to be with the Lord February 18, 2019. *** Click on image *** to access audio recordings of his Bible teaching.

Kevin Conner's autobiography

Conner experienced the LRM in Sydney, Australia in 1951. He pastored the Waverly Christian Fellowship in Melbourne. An author of several books, he also taught for many years at Portland Bible College in Oregon.

Barbara Green (1933 - 2018)

Barbara Green went to be with the Lord on September 10, 2018. She and her husband Charles started Word of Faith Temple in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1953. Under the Green's 57-year leadership, that church went on to be the largest in the city. *** Click on image *** to see the slideshow that was shown at her memorial service

Word of Faith Temple, New Orleans, Louisiana

5600 Read Boulevard location

Garlon & Modest Pemberton, Houston, TX

The brothers were both gifted speakers, and they pastored in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. They also were hosts of the Dixie Camp Meetings that drew people from across the globe.

Carl Neal, Baton Rouge, LA

Known for powerful preaching and prophecies, he pastored Evangel Temple.

Memorial service for M. D. Beall

***Click on image*** to hear the audio recording of the memorial service held for M. D. Beall on September 21, 1979. Speakers included Latter Rain pioneers Garlon Pemberton and Charles Green, as well as, Mom Beall's children: Patricia Beall Gruits, James Lee Beall, and Harry Beall.

A Hand on My Shoulder

***Click on image*** to link to the autobiography of M. D. Beall, A Hand on My Shoulder

The Layzells of Vancouver

Hugh Layzell (Reg Layzell's son) writes about his family's important role in the revival in Canada in the mid-twentieth century, plus its overseas missions activity.

Stanley Frodsham, Springfield, MO

When the Latter Rain revival broke out Frodsham was the editor of the Assembly of God's Pentecostal Evangel. Myrtle Beall invited him to see the revival's impact in her Detroit church. Frodsham was so convinced of the revival's validity that eventually it became untenable for him to remain in the AG, which did not approve the revival. *** Click on image *** to hear the audio of a sermon - "As Rain Upon the Mown Grass" - delivered by Frodsham at an Elim Bible Institute camp meeting in July 1967.

Thomas Wyatt, Portland, OR

A pastor known for his Wings of Healing radio broadcast. He was one of the elder statesmen of the Latter Rain Movement and was instrumental in the revival's missions impetus.

Max Wyatt, Salem, OR

Max, the son of Thomas Wyatt, pastored Faith Tabernacle in Salem and also served as a missionary to Africa.

Winston Nunes, Tacoma, WA

Encountered Latter Rain activity in Vancouver in 1948. Went on to pastor in Toronto, Canada. Recognized as an outstanding Bible teacher.

Ivan Q. Spencer's biography

Willow in the Wind: A Spiritual Pilgrimmage by Marion Meloon chronicles the life of the founder of Elim Bible Institute. Spencer was one of the LRM's elder statesmen.

Elim Bible Institute, Lima, NY

Elim was founded by Ivan Q. Spencer in 1924. It has been known over the decades for its integrity, missions emphasis, spirituality, and a desire for true unity in body of Christ.

Alton Earl Lee, Los Angeles, CA

Pastored Immanuel Gospel Temple and was known for ministering the gift of healing. Both he and his wife Rhoda were powerfully effective preachers.

Violet Kiteley, Oakland, CA

She was present in the early days of the revival outbreak in North Battleford. She pastored an influential church in Oakland. Among other things, Violet is remembered for her pioneering leadership in worship symposiums.

E. Charlotte Baker, Seattle, WA

Charlotte and Violet Kiteley did street ministry together at Glad Tidings in Vancouver, pastored by Reg Layzell. She went on to pastor King's Temple in Seattle. She also helped to establish a Bible school in Ghana. Well-known for her prophetic parables. Photo provided by Gary and Louise Short.

Edie Iverson, Portland, Oregon

Attended the bible school in North Battleford during the second year of the revival. Pastored Bible Temple in Portland with her husband, Dick. She was the author of two well-known choruses - Thanks be to God and The Lord Reigneth.

Rozella & Leonard Fox, San Bernardino, CA

Leonard pastored in California and was involved in African missions. He is remembered as a great preacher.

Longest-living LR minister

Currently 102 years old and living in Atlanta, Donald Murphy formerly pastored in Miami. *** Click on image *** to hear a recording of Donald prophesying and then reminiscing about how he came to be involved in the LRM. Photo is the property of Larry Davis, Marietta, Georgia.

A. W. Rasmussen, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Founder of the Independent Assemblies of God International. Host of a Latter Rain convention in Edmonton in October 1948. Ern Baxter said of that convention, "I never saw such a concentration of the power of God."

Joseph Mattsson-Boze, Chicago, IL

A native of Sweden, he pastored the Philadelphia Church in Chicago. Edited the Herald of Faith magazine that merged with Gerald Derstine's Harvest Time magazine.

Revival Artifacts ...

***Click on image*** to go to another of my websites, Revival Artifacts, which features Latter Rain Movement ministers, plus Charismatics like Jamie Buckingham, Bob Mumford, and Mark Rutland, and Pentecostals like Jack Hayford

Moses Vegh's autobiography

Vegh pastored for many years in Findlay, Ohio. When he met his wife Betty she was a member of the Bethesda Missionary Temple. Moses relates how he traveled the world preaching, even praying personally for Boris Yeltsin.

Ernest Gentile, San Jose, CA

Ernest first experienced the LRM as a 20-year-old at Crescent Beach, BC in 1950. Ernest is the author of several edifying and enlightening books. He and his wife Anna pastor in New Mexico.

Includes LRM history

The author, Ernest Gentile, first experienced the revival in British Columbia in 1950. Gentile is both a prophet and a teacher. He tells about M. D. Beall saying he is a "seer". This book is a splendid resource for the study of prophecy.

Latter Rain affects China!

Includes a chapter entitled, "The Latter Rain Movement and China's Revival". Balcombe was prophesied over by Reg Layzell, Violet Kiteley, and David Schoch. Schoch said in 1963 that Balcombe would minister in Red China - he did, beginning in 1978!

Dennis & Kathy Balcombe, China

Violet Kiteley, Reg Layzell, and David Schoch all prophesied over Dennis Balcombe. In 1963, Schoch said Balcombe would ministry in Red China - and beginnning in 1978 he did!

missions in West Africa

Paul Cannon shares how revival came to West Africa. This is a thrilling story of God's love and his power to deliver.

Paul & Mildred Cannon, Decatur, IL

Missionaries to West Africa & pastors in the United States. In 1953, Paul graduated from Thomas Wyatt's Bethesda Bible Institute.

Sixto Lopez, Latin America

Sixto utilized radio broadcasting in his missions to Cuba and Colombia. He and Carlton Spencer and other Elim ministers traveled to Detroit in February 1949 to witness the revival services. Part of his report of the services was the "brokenness, yieldedness ... and a flow of love and fellowship" that they experienced.

Vera Ludlum Bachle, Detroit, MI

Vera told Myrtle Beall about a revival that was taking place in Canada in 1948, and they both went to Vancouver in November to see for themselves what was happening. She was an evangelist who preached in all 50 states and in every Canadian province.

Mom & Pop Beall, Detroit, MI

Mom Beall was the founder of the Bethesda Missionary Temple, and she and her family provided leadership for many ministries that sought the Lord in revival. The anointing that was on her preaching and praying is unforgettable.

M. D. Beall - FULL obituary

*** Click on image *** to read the Detroit Free Press' full obituary for Mom Beall that ran in the FP September 21, 1979 edition.

M. D. Beall obituary (small portion)

Detroit News (September 21, 1979)

Patricia Beall Gruits, Detroit, MI

Gruits, the daughter of Latter Rain pioneer M. D. 'Mom' Beall, founded RHEMA International, an educational and medical mission in Haiti, with her late husband, J. Peter Gruits. She is the author of the best-selling catechism, Understanding God.

Classic LRM catechism

Over ONE MILLION copies of Patricia Beall Gruits' catechism have been distributed.

James Lee Beall, Detroit, MI

James Beall was one of the most sought after speakers in both the Latter Rain Movement and the Charismatic Movement. He preached on all the continents but Antartica.

An interview with James Lee Beall

***Click on image*** to read the complete interview James Lee Beall gave to Pathfinders in 1983

has commentary by James Lee Beall

Three of the contributors have LRM connections - James Lee Beall (commentary on the Pastoral Epistles), Dick Iverson (commentary on the Psalms), and Charles Green (an article on "The Pathway of Praise and Worship"). This study bible was edited by Jack Hayford. *click on image* to view an excerpt from the Book of Genesis.

Harry M. Beall, Detroit, MI

An associate pastor and minister of music at Bethesda Missionary Temple. His rich baritone voice was utilized both as a soloist and a worship leader.

Eleanor & Paul Stern, Kenya

Paul and his wife Eleanor were missionaries sent out from Bethesda Missionary Temple. They later pastored in Danville, Illinois.

The Stallwoods, Nigeria

Bruce, Lucinda, and sons were missionaries sent out from Bethesda Missionary Temple.

Owen Shackett, Tacoma, WA

This is Owen's 1951 graduation photo from the Bethesda Bible Institute in Detroit. He went on to pastor the large People's Church in Tacoma.

Ollie McCubbin, Sandusky, Ohio

Sent out from the Bethesda Missionary Temple to pastor in Sandusky.

Elton Weatherly, Ypsilanti, MI

Founded Bethesda Bible Church (now, Bethesda Church) in 1961 with his wife, Judith.

Fred Poole, Philadelphia, PA

Originally from Wales, Poole pastored Philadelphia Gospel Temple, one of the earliest churches to embrace the Latter Rain revival. ***Click on image*** to hear one of Poole's sermons.

Clair Hutchins, Chicago, IL

Hutchins, who pastored Beulah Temple, was well known as a singer and a preacher. His daughter is Carol Cymbala, the leader of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

Paul & Lura Grubb, Memphis, TN

Pastors of Faith Temple

Graham Truscott, San Diego, CA

Graham and Pamela Truscott led Restoration Temple in San Diego. Graham authored several books.

William Faupel, Naples, Florida

Devoted 125 pages of his PhD dissertation to the LRM. Past president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

Richard Riss, Newark, NJ

Author of Latter Rain: The Latter Rain movement of 1948 and the Mid-Twentieth Century Evangelical Awakening, the most extensive account of the LRM of 1948. Professor of history at Pillar College.

Richard Riss' LRM history

Weak on the Bethesda Missionary Temple part of the story because the author did not have access to most of Bethesda's primary source materials due to a fire at the church in 1962.

More history from Riss

Includes coverage of the Azusa Street revival, the LRM of 1948, and the Charismatic movement.

Riss' article in AG Heritage

*** Click on image *** to access Richard Riss' article entitled, "The New Order of the Latter Rain: A Look at the Revival Movement on Its 40th Anniversary" in the Assemblies of God publication, Heritage (fall 1987 edition). The .pdf link downloads the entire 20-pages of that issue. Riss' article begins on page 15.

Revival Church perspective

The author, Dick Iverson, was the founder of Bible Temple and Portland Bible College in Portland, Oregon. His wife, Edie, attended the Bible college in North Battleford, Saskatchewan.

Daily Devotional by Ivan Q. Spencer

These devotions by Ivan Spencer were first published in The Elim Pentecostal Herald. Included is an editorial he wrote concerning the Latter Rain revival, entitled, "The Custodians" (originally, "Who are the Custodians of the Latter Rain?")

Sees LRM as the precursor to the Charismatic Movement

More than just a recounting of the LRM though, this is Hamon's survey of all of the Church's history.

Canadian LRM backgrounds

The chapters on the LRM were written by William Faupel and Mark Hutchinson.

Glad Tidings, Vancouver, Canada

Site of a revival outbreak in November 1948. Pastor Reg Layzell hosted the Hawtin brothers from Saskatchewan. Myrtle Beall was among those prophesied over.

Nellie & Reg Layzell, Vancouver, BC

Hosted the Hawtin brothers for revival services in 1948. Pastored Glad Tidings Church in Vancouver. Reg was one of the LRM's elder statesmen and was known for his balance, integrity, and his teaching on the "sacrifice of praise."

Hugh & Audrey Layzell, British Columbia

Missionaries to Uganda. Hugh also pastored in Hamilton, Ontario. They authored the book Sons of His Purpose which includes much of the history of the 1948 revival in western Canada.

Kayy Gordon, Nunavut, Canada

Kayy Gordon left her home church (Glad Tidings in Vancouver) at 22 years old to start an effective and enduring mission in the Arctic.

James Routley, Chilliwack, BC

Jim pastored Pentecostal Tabernacle in Chilliwack and was an early associate of George Hawtin and Reg Layzell.

Sharon Orphanage and Schools, North Battleford, Saskatchewan

The site of the initial outbreak of revival in February 1948.

Sharon Orphanage & Schools

*Click on image* to see the original September 1947 letter (it is a .pdf file) from George Hawtin, Percy Hunt, and Herrick Holt announcing the opening of the facilities in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The facilities were the site of the revival that broke out six months later in February 1948.

The Sharon Star

The Sharon Star was the publication that came from the revival site in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. It is printed monthly to this day. *** Click on image *** to view current and past issues (only as far back as the year 2000, though).

George & Rhoda Hawtin, Saskatchewan

Jim Watt says George was the undisputed leader of the revival outbreak in North Battleford.

Ern & Jessie Hawtin, Saskatchewan

Ern was George Hawtin's brother and also a prominent prophet in North Battleford.

George Warnock, Canada

Author of "The Feast of Tabernacles".

Marie & Jim Watt, Seattle, WA

Jim was one of the original seven elders at the work in North Battleford. He also served for a time as Ern Baxter's secretary.

Milford Kirkpatrick, Saskatchewan

Present at the revival outbreak in North Battleford. He served as a missionary to Japan.